NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - DELAWARE VS MARYLAND

March 17, 2022

Brenda Frese

Maryland Terrapins

Media Conference

BRENDA FRESE: We're obviously extremely grateful and excited to finally be back in Xfinity. It's been a long two years since we've been able to host and something that we're extremely grateful for. For us, it's also been a long two weeks, being back in practice, being out there, competing. I know this team, how competitive they are. It's been an extremely competitive stretch over the last two weeks. We're finally at the healthiest point that we've been with our team all season, so we're looking forward to having some of our best basketball ahead, which we're going to need against a really good Delaware team. Coach Adair has done a great job with them. Actually, fun fact, we both lived in the same neighborhood when she was going to Georgetown. So can't say enough about what she's done to their program. They're playing at their highest level led by Player of the Year Jasmine Dickey, just an incredibly special player that has really put her team on their back.

Experienced team. You know, really veteran led, a lot of grad seniors, seniors on their team. So for us, it's going to take a 40-minute effort of defense and rebounding, but thrilled to be playing in front of our fans here at Xfinity. Ticket sales are going extremely well, so we're looking forward to having a great crowd.

Q. Since October you guys have been talking about complete the mission. And you're finally kind of at this point here in March. What's the last message to the team? What's it like to be at this point, and how do you strike that balance where not trying to, you know, when you talk about something for so long and it's finally in front of you not to make it feel a little bit too daunting?

BRENDA FRESE: I think the beautiful thing is our players know what's at hand. These have been some of our best practices, most energetic practices, because they know. If you don't put a 40-minute game together, you're going to go home. If you do, you're going to advance. So it's just taking it, though, one game at a time. We understand what it looks like, but for us, it's just taking one practice and one game at a time.

Q. Coach, I just want to know about the preparation, how it differs from regular season or even conference tournament to this. Are you spending more time watching film, more time scouting or is it just more practices?

BRENDA FRESE: For our staff, no question, it's a lot more film. So, you know, when you're talking about the three teams, you know, you're obviously looking at the team in front of you, but you're also having a great support staff in the background looking out for what potentially could be ahead if we're able to compete and play for 40 minutes. So just a lot more game film. Usually you're just focused on that single game, but just a lot more preparation for what it looks like.

Q. You mentioned this being the healthiest you guys have been all season basically. Is this sort of break between the conference tournament and the NCAA something you've been looking forward to for a while now I guess?

BRENDA FRESE: It really has. I mean, I kind of laugh, though, because I felt like we had this full Army out there and we had nine players this last stretch. So for us it seemed like so many more players. But it is, you know, it matters because it impacts your defense, it impacts your offense, and that continuity we haven't been able to have all season long. So for us it's been a great couple weeks to be able to put the pieces together.

Q. Your team really hasn't been short of playing all American competition this year and Jasmine Dickey is just the next in mind. What have you seen from her on film that kind of makes her click?

BRENDA FRESE: Tremendous three-level scorer, obviously off the bounce she's terrific. And then she goes to the glass hard. She's a difficult matchup because she's so athletic, you know, and can really score the basketball and can really go to the glass and get a lot of second-chance opportunities. So it's going to take a collective team effort. We're going to have to box her out and we're going to have to make her take difficult shots.

Q. You mentioned playing at Xfinity. Could you just talk a little more about the importance of getting at least one more game at home in front of these fans?

BRENDA FRESE: I'm really grateful for our seniors, you know, for Chloe, Katie and Channise to have that opportunity. And then for our fans. I mean, again, this was something that has been taken away from us the last two years, not being able to host. And you work so hard during the regular season for this right and this opportunity to have your fans in the stands, your kids sleeping in their own beds and having that routine and being comfortable on your own home court. So we definitely want to use this to our advantage.

Q. So you've been putting out teams with a couple people coming off the bench all season. This being March Madness, how deep do you expect your rotation to be tomorrow?

BRENDA FRESE: Yeah. You know, I mean, our rotation, give or take, depending on the status of how healthy we've been all year, has been about seven. So our rotation kind of is set where it is. So I expect it to be similar going into this tournament.

Q. What have you seen from Ashley over these last two weeks, and do you expect her to return to the starting lineup tomorrow?

BRENDA FRESE: You know, for Ashley, she's done a tremendous job getting herself back in shape. I think that's been the biggest thing is being pain free. She's been able to really get up and down, and so for us it's now kind of -- we only got the one game in the BIG TEN to be able to see how the optimal level where her conditioning level is, so I think that's something where we just gotta take a look at.

Q. We talked about this a little bit on Selection Sunday, but just coming into this week talking about the fact how this is hosting the first time in two years and the fact we're all sitting here and, yes, there's still Zoom. But things really feel normal now. How excited are you guys just to take the court and taking the perspective of the past two years and be back to something that really is normal?

BRENDA FRESE: Yeah. Finally. And I think all of us have been through it and so we are extremely grateful. Having a year last year where we were tested six days a week and out in San Antonio every single day to play in the tournament. And, like you said, now to be back for our fans and family and friends, you know, to be here in Xfinity and be playing on your home court, I mean it's something that I don't think we'll ever take for granted again. It's just something that you really truly appreciate.

Q. You played against Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Naz Hillmon, just to say the least this season. How do you expect Jasmine Dickey to be different from those scorers that you've played this season?

BRENDA FRESE: Yeah. You know, her game is more perimeter based. So she's just a really elite, athletic scorer. Fortunately for us, I think playing the number six toughest schedule in the country, we've played so many games when you've played against Stanford and MC State and our BIG TEN conference and the players you just mentioned. So I expect our players are going to compete like they always do. They know she's a great player. She's proven it. She's averaging over 25 points a game. I mean they have mad respect for her game. But for us, it's just collectively just having a great defensive effort. She's going to score, just make her have to take difficult shots.

Q. No one asked about Katie. How important is it to kind of get her going because when she's hitting that shot it kind of changes and spreads out the entire offense and makes the defense move a little different. But she's not one who's going to force that. How do you find that without giving away the game plan, how do you find that balance in getting her going a little bit?

BRENDA FRESE: I think the beautiful thing is we've had two weeks, week and a half of practice. So obviously an emphasis of how we want to play and how we want to get different players different looks. So for us, it's sharing the basketball and making easy plays for one another.

Q. Again, without giving away the game plan, I was just wondering, do you strategize more for their offense glass, how well they rebound or is that just something you're telling your team, that they have to win the battle of the will?

BRENDA FRESE: Obviously, we've had teams throughout our conference who have been tremendous offensive rebounding teams. So for us, it's just continuing to have that emphasis and understanding just what a great offensive team they are.

Q. Coach, you talked about the difficulties of sharing the basketball when you've had so much turnover inside games and without a consistent rotation in practice. Do you feel like these last two weeks you've seen your team kind of develop those good habits of sharing the basketball now that you've had everyone there?

BRENDA FRESE: I really have. Again, like I said, through injury and illness, not having everyone together has impacted us greatly. So just having this stretch, I mean, they've been some of our best practices up to date. They've been some of our best unselfish practices of really sharing the basketball and moving the basketball side to side.

Q. Coach, how important will it be to snatch defensive rebounds and to limit their ability to craft offensive glass in tomorrow's game versus Delaware?

BRENDA FRESE: Yeah. You know, battle of the wills on the glass. I mean, us keeping them off the glass and then from our end, being able to go get second and third chance opportunities. So I think it's a huge story line and element of the game.

Q. Coach, I know you guys are a 4 seed and hosting and have gotten national recognition, but with this tough schedule, with the injuries you guys have had earlier in the season, do you feel like as a 4 seed, you might be a little bit flying under the radar as one of the contenders for the title? I know it's just the first game, but do you feel like you guys might be a little bit under the radar here?

BRENDA FRESE: Yeah. I think we are, but understandably so, just given the elements we've faced. I think for us, I mean, the number in front of your name really doesn't matter. For us, it's are you playing your best basketball, and are you peaking at the right time. And for us, this is what we're built for and want to be putting it all together.

Q. Coach, the one player in your rotation who hasn't played in an NCAA tournament yet is Shyanne sellers. What have you seen from her development as we've talked about throughout the season that's made her ready for these type of moments?

BRENDA FRESE: She doesn't shy away from the big moment. I thought the Big Ten Tournament she didn't make it bigger than what it needed to be. I don't expect that she will with the tournament. I mean when you're a high motor, high-energy type of player, that doesn't change. So I expect that she'll continue to be just really defensive oriented for us, you know, be aggressive and play at a really high level.

Q. So with the emphasis on gender equality this March, what do you think about the attempts to lessen the disparity between the coverage of the two tournaments?

BRENDA FRESE: Yeah. You know, I think obviously, you've seen some changes, starting with the March Madness and the swag bags and the different things that they went through with the rapport. I think everyone is excited to be able to see what it looks like as we go through the tournament in these next few weeks.

Q. Is there anything else you've seen from Delaware after watching film that you haven't mentioned so far?

BRENDA FRESE: I don't think so. I mean, I think, obviously, they're just a veteran-led team. I mean when you talk about the experience factor that they have. This isn't some fluke of a team coming in. This is a team that earned it, that is going to be for a first round opponent for us is going to be a really tough matchup that we have to come ready to play for 40 minutes.

Q. Coach, wanted to ask what the importance is of being able to play different styles within a game when it's a one-game series every single timeout. How important is it to be able to throw different defensive looks, offensive sets, stuff like that, at a team?

BRENDA FRESE: Yeah. Really important, something we've spent the last couple of weeks working through. And that's both ends of the floor offensively and defensively. So it is. I think it's a great time, because teams haven't seen your style of play. You haven't gone against like you have in conference play when you play each other two or three times. So having different looks and wrinkles is going to be important.

Q. So the NCAA tournament is full of ups and downs. What have you told your team about just preparing for the NCAA tournament, about the complex its of the game, how there may be ups and downs throughout the duration of the game?

BRENDA FRESE: Yeah. You know, I think the body of work your season prepares you for that, because it is game is a game of runs. And so it's emotionally understanding if a team makes a run, then your run is going to come as well. So just staying positive and patient within that, not getting too high or too low within a 40-minute game.

MODERATOR: Thank you, Coach.